RETIRING at the end of this month, Debbie Richards has been Group Scout Leader (GSL) at Crediton for 20 years with the First Crediton Scout Group.

She has been a Venture Scout Leader and for at least seven years was a Beaver Leader becoming Beaver GSL for five years.

When she became GSL for the Group she merged administration of the three strands of Scouting in Crediton - Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.

One of the Scout Leaders, Wayne Vincent, said: “Debbie does not take praise for anything. She has so much energy, she is an inspiration.

“We worked out the number of Scouts she must have dealt with and it must be hundreds. She has done at least 30 camps in Scouts, a few have been Jamborees, as well as a few pantos.

“In looking after the Leaders, she is one-to-one and if we have any problem we just give her a call. In the early days there were no girls in Scouting, there still has never been a girl in Beavers but girls have come in at Cubs where there are now several, which is so good,” said Wayne.

“Any event that happens, Debbie is there making it work and she is fantastic at building it up. If there is a problem, you can talk to her,” he added.